The Wolverines grabbed a top slot at the Tri-District tournament and a berth at State with back-to-back wins over familiar foes Saturday at Pipeline Fields in Blaine.

And they dodged a bullet along the way.

In the opening game of the sub-district playoff in Blaine, Lynden Christian scored one run in the first inning and, in a win-or-go-home contest, held onto that one-run margin over the next four.

Scoreless in four at-bats and trailing 1-0, Friday Harbor began to click in the fifth as senior Michael Knowles drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single and sophomore Roy Taylor followed up with an RBI single of his own. The Wolverines tallied six runs on six hits in the inning and ran away with a 7-1 victory to advance into the next round.

On the mound, Taylor earned the win and Knowles the save.

In the sub-district finale, senior Richie Ochoa proved too much for Meridian to handle. He tossed a one-hitter and struck out nine as Friday Harbor prevailed 10-0 in five innings.

The Wolverines (19-1 overall) pounded out 12 base hits and tallied 10 runs in just five innings. Knowles was 2-of-2 at the plate, scored three runs and had an RBI, and senior Jordan Nash, 3-of-3 at the plate, drove in four runs.

Next: The Wolverines take on Bellevue Christian in the opening round Saturday at the Tri-District tournament at Sammamish High School. The game begins at 10 a.m. With a victory, they would face Chimacum, at 1 p.m.